Olayinka Sanni a former regional manager with Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank), was yesterday dragged before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly fraudulently converting N672m from the account of one of the bank’s customers, Murhi International Group.

Sanni and two others, were arraigned before Justice Deborah Oluwayemi on an eight-count charge of fraudulent conversion by stealing and other sundry offences by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Sanni, who has now been relieved of his job, was said to have committed the fraud while serving at the Ikeja regional office of the bank.

Others docked alongside Sanni are Oyebode Atoyebi and a company linked with him, Sidaw Ventures Limited.

The three accused persons were said to have conspired to perpetrate the fraud.

When the case came up on Thursday, the accused persons were ushered into the dock, while the EFCC lawyer, Oyedepo Rotimi applied that the charges should be read to them.

But before the charges could to be read, Atoyebi raised his hand in the dock, and told the court that he needed to see his lawyer to brief him.

According to him, he was arrested on Wednesday by operatives of the EFCC, and that he was not allowed access to his phone.

Also Sanni’s lawyer, M.O Atanda, said he was under the instruction to announce appearance for only the first accused (Sanni) and not the third (Sidaw Ventures) because there was no link between them.

But Rotimi faulted the claim, saying it was just a mere ploy to frustrate the arraignment. He also dismissed Atoyebi’s claim that he was not allowed access to his phone.

After entertaining all the submissions, Justice Oluwayemi said that it would be neater for the preliminary issues to be resolved, and fixed December 21, 2012 for arraignment.